Buzz Williams believes Mark Pope is 'too smart to be a coach,' expects success at Kentucky

Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams was just like everyone else in the basketball world, checking out the unprecedented madness that was Mark Pope‘s introductory press conference back in April. It was something the sport just hasn’t ever seen, and probably won’t again.

“All of the former players on the bus for the press conference. Like, that’s hard to find in 2024 at any level where there’s that type of crowd,” Williams told KSR at SEC Media Day. “19,000 people at a press conference and you’re driving a bus into the arena. That’s really cool.”

That was day one. Then came the massive recruiting momentum and Big Blue Madness, checking off every PR box imaginable since he arrived in Lexington. Williams was even a fan of Pope’s decision to bring back Rick Pitino — “I thought what they did this past weekend with Coach Pitino only kind of gives context to all of that (energy),” he said.

He’s seen it all, and he’s enjoyed every second of it. Williams hasn’t gotten the chance to get to know Pope quite yet, but his first impression has been undoubtedly positive.

“I read a lot. I don’t know Coach Pope, but I know he’s been very successful everywhere he’s been,” he told KSR. “I’ve read and listened to everything since he got the job, and it seems like Big Blue Nation is really excited that he’s back, and it looks like he’s done a really good job assembling this year’s team, and they’re doing a great job in recruiting.”

If anything, he feels Pope may be in the wrong business — he’s too bright to be wasting that brain on basketball. His status as a Rhodes Scholar candidate as a former Columbia University medical student only backs that up.

Unfortunately for Williams as a competitor in the SEC, Pope chose coaching. And he expects great success for the first-year Kentucky head coach in Lexington.

“Seems like he’s incredibly intelligent, maybe too smart to be a coach, but has a lot of energy,” he said. “Good for Coach, and I wish him the best.”

What about the shoes he’ll be filling with John Calipari’s move to Arkansas? Williams said that speaks to the current state of the SEC and the conference’s depth from top to bottom. It’s always been a good job, and a Hall of Famer in Coach Cal taking it on proves that.

“I think in the coaching world, a part of that answer is everybody knows how good a job Arkansas is, and you look at what Coach has done since he’s been there, so that speaks to the support and how good it is,” Williams said. “Coach Muss was incredible in the job that he did in postseason play during his time there. Coach Richardson, Coach Sutton, whoever you pick at Arkansas basketball history, it speaks to how good of a job it is in the state.

“Coach has done a fabulous job since Coach Muss left.”

We may be biased, but for our money, the new guy has been pretty awesome.